Air Pollution :: essays research papers

What is Air PollutionAir Pollution contamination of the atmosphere by catalysteous, liquid, or solid wastesthat can endanger the health of human beings, plants, and animals, or that can damagematerials, reduce visibility, or produce undesirable odors.Air Pollution StatisticsEvery year, more than sixty-six million tons of poisonous gas is emptied into the air,twelve million tons of hydrocarbons1, six million tons of nitrogen oxides, one hundred fifty special K tons of aldehydes2, and five hundred thousand tons of sulfur compunds. Approximately 80% of our air pollution comes from hydrocarbons released by vegetation.What Causes Air PollutionAir pollution is ca apply by many things such as car fumes, burning of fossil fuels,furnaces. By letting all these gases release into the air, it makes it harder to breathe. Ozone can cause part of your lungs to close off and make it harder to breathe.The tall smokestacks used by industries and utilities do not remove pollutants butsimply boost the m higher into the atmosphere. These pollutants may then be transportedover great distances, causing untoward effects such as acid rain in areas far from theemission site. The worldwide increase in the burning of coal and oil since the recently 1940shas led to increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide. The resulting greenhouse effect hasreduced the escape of infrared radiation from the earth, causing a possible global warmingtrend.The Prevention of Air PollutionTo cut down on all the pollution being released into the air, we have removed thepollutant before materials are used, removed the pollutant later on it is formed, or altered theprocess to lower pollutant levels produced.